Atupele tears into past leaders in Malawi: Includes his father in the attack

United Democratic Front (UDF) May 20 presidential hopeful Atupele Muluzi has taken his campaign to another level when he torn into the post multiparty governments accusing them of failing to steer the country into a right direction for the past 20 years.

Atupele, a son to the first multi-party president Bakili Muluzi, did not spare his father in the on slaughter and called on Malawians to only emulate the good things especially from the senior Muluzi and another post-multiparty president late Bingu wa Mutharika.

He said that all the three leaders that the country has had since 1994, including the incumbent President Joyce Banda, have not been able to initiate programmes that could bring economic freedom to Malawians.

Atupele made the attack during whistle-stop tours he conducted in five constituencies in Chiradzulu on Sunday meant to explain the significance of voting the youths and fresh blood in power.

Atupele Muluzi: We need change that can bring real development

His remarks come against the background of Malawi’s intent to celebrate 50 years of independence this year and the holding of the first-ever tripartite polls on May 20.

“What happens is that since 1994 funds in government coffers benefit the same people who have been in politics. There is little that trickles down to the rural masses,” he said.

Atupele said this is why Malawians fail to enjoy other freedoms coupled with what he called cases of secrecy at Capital Hill.

According to Atupele, there is need to remove the secrecy on expenditure by the authorities, saying taxpayers need to be updated on how their money is used.

“Secrecy leads to corruption as is the case with the looting of public funds at Capital Hill which has now led to shortage of drugs and continued delayed salaries of civil servants,” said Atupele.

He further said UDF would ensure that people have money in their pockets by revamping economy, labour and agriculture for increased production and job creation.

“Not only that; our policy will be to reduce the price of fertiliser for any person willing to venture into agriculture affords fertiliser,” he said.

Atupele said that Malawians need to emulate only good things from previous leaders such as Bakili Muluzi and Bingu wa Mutharika while leave out the bad that was associated with these leaders.

He also raised concerns over political prostitution which is a major characteristic of Malawi’s politics.

“We don’t want people that jump ship anyhow because they ruin the economy of the country. They have been there since 1994 and they are the ones who confuse the President. We want this to stop,” he said.